At a time when Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is proposing $1.9 billion in new taxes to help close the commonwealth’s fiscal shortfalls, the state somehow found $8 million to spend on furniture in FY 2012 alone.

According to a monthly business confidence index released by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, employers posted a 51.1 reading in the month of October. A reading of 50 is considered neutral.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the economic growth statistics by state for 2011 this week, leading some to question the health of state economies across the nation.

During 2011 the city spent an extra $140,000 more than its snow removal budget of $785,000. But instead of being spent to remove snow, the money was spent to pay state employees’ salaries in other departments.

Quincy, Massachusetts Mayor Thomas Koch recently began a new policy to make snow plowing more efficient and effective.

A look at some of this week’s most interesting, and consequential, budget- and economy-related issues in the 50 states.

This weekend, eight teams will face off in four games in the NFL playoffs. Everyone has his or her favorites, but when it comes to the economic and fiscal condition of each team’s state, who comes out on top?